Supermarket chain Aldi has come up trumps with its cheap wines a winner at Sydney International

A CUT-PRICE wine has been among the stars of the Sydney International Wine Competition, out-performing drops worth ten times as much.

red wine flowing in transparent glass

A $5 BOTTLE of rose from cut-price supermarket chain Aldi has been among the stars of the Sydney International Wine Competition, out-performing drops worth ten times as much.

The Aldi 2015 South Point rose was among six winners in the rose section, and was also awarded a coveted Blue Gold medal, the equivalent of silver.

Aldi also scored goals with its $12.99 Tudor shiraz, which took out the trophy for Best Lighter Bodied Dry Red, and a Blackstone Paddock “The Player” Barossa shiraz for $14.99.

Top shelf ... Peter Ryan from Port Melbourne buying some red wine at the Aldi store in South Melbourne.

Of the 1812 entrants representing 100 grape varieties and blends, just 269 wines were awarded medals making the Aldi success all the more impressive.

Unlike most other wine competitions, the SIWC entrants are judged alongside food to best replicate the consumer experience.

The most successful winery of the competition, New Zealand’s Yealands Wine Group, had seven medal winning wines costing under $15 a bottle.

Chairman of Judges, Kym Milne, praised the quality of the entrants, and the wide range of grape varieties to have featured in the winners’ list.

“This wine competition is all about providing the consumer with a range of wine options for a range of different dining situations,” said Mr Milne.

Fantastic palate ... Aldi buying director Jason Bowyer understands his consumer base.

“A real diversity of wine styles, produced from an ever increasing range of grape varieties have been awarded either Top 100, Blue Gold, Gold or Highly Commended status.

“It is pleasing to see not just diversity between the classes but also within the classes providing the consumer with some really interesting options of wines with which to experiment.”

SIWC founder and retiring competition director Warren Mason said he began the competition in 1982 with the intention of helping buyers make informed decisions rather than provide feedback to winemakers.

“It was never going to be a meaningless endless list of award winners,” said Mr Mason.

“It’s about the consumer who knows very little about wine, who feels more confident and safe if they go for the trophy winner.”

Top drop ... the Aldi Tudor shiraz has been a winner for two years running. Picture Tim Carrafa

He was full of praise for Aldi buying director Jason Bowyer for his “fantastic palate” and understanding his consumer base.

“I think he’s probably better than anyone is in terms of thinking of his market, given he’s able to offer wines at $10 a bottle or less,” Mr Mason said.

“He’s obviously got his technique and approach right.”

The Best Wine of Competition, went to a sparkling from France — the 2005 Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage — which sells for around $58 a bottle.

Mr Milne said people seeking a good drop for Christmas lunch would not be disappointed with any of the wines on the winners’ list.

“(The SIWC) was the first of its kind to offer wine consumers the results of wines tasted at the table alongside appropriate food and it remains the pre-eminent wine show of its kind,” he said.

TOP WINES IN THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION FOR UNDER $15

1. BLUE-GOLD Aldi Stores South Point Estate rose 2015 $4.99

2. BLUE-GOLD De Bortoli Wines Family Vineyards Bianco 2014 $10

3. BLUE-GOLD James Busby Fine Wines Chalkboard Cotes Du Rhone 2013 $10

4. TOP 100 Seifried Estate Old Coach Road Nelson sauvignon blanc 2015 $11.83

5. TOP 100 Yealands Wine Group Silverfern pinot noir 2014 $12.73

6. TROPHY ALDI Stores Tudor Central Victorian shiraz 2014 $12.99

7. GOLD Lindauer, Wither Hills Lindauer Classic Brut NV $12.99

8. GOLD Yealands Wine Group Peter Yealands PGR 2015 $13.64

9. TOP 100 Yealands Wine Group Peter Yealands Pinot gris 2015 $13.64

10. BLUE-GOLD Yealands Wine Group Peter Yealands sauvignon blanc 2015 $13.64

11. GOLD De Bortoli Wines Deen De Bortoli botrytis semillon 2009 $13.99

12. BLUE-GOLD Casella Family Brands Peter Lehmann Wines Classic Range Pinot grigio

2015 $14

13. TOP 100 Villa Maria Estate Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough sauvignon blanc

2015 $14.55

14. GOLD Yealands Wine Group The Crossings Pinot gris 2015 $14.55

15. BLUE-GOLD Yealands Wine Group The Crossings sauvignon blanc 2015 $14.55

16. BLUE-GOLD Yealands Wine Group Yealands Estate Landmade Pinot gris 2015 $14.55

17. GOLD Sileni Estates Greyrock Pinot gris 2014 $14.56

18. BLUE-GOLD ALDI Stores Blackstone Paddock “The Player” Barossa shiraz 2014 $14.99

19. TOP 100 Pinnacle Drinks Marlborough Sounds Marlborough sauvignon blanc 2015 $15